The Hamann Line

Elmer "Doc" Hamann pitched in one game for the Cleveland Indians on September 21, 1922 against the Boston Red Sox and never played again. Unfortunately, Mr. Hamann faced seven batters in the above mentioned game and did not retire a single one. Since baseball's earned run average statistic is computed via dividing the number of earned runs by innings pitched, this means Doc has the dubious distinction of owning a record which can never be broken, an ERA of infinity.

A new baseball statistic should now be employed to honor this man. Anytime, a pitcher records his first out in the major leagues, he has thus crossed the Hamann line, similar to when a player hits above .200 or The Mendoza Line or exceeds home run number one to pass the Duane Kuiper line.